R. J. Alvarez is expected to get the start but throw no more than two innings on Wednesday. (FAUOwlAccess.com phtoto)
Primed for Pitt
FAu coach McCormack hopes midweek match-up against Pittsburgh primes Owls' bats for Sun Belt play.
Originally published on
3/9/2010
by
Chuck King
BOCA RATON – Remove Friday games from FAU’s record and the Owls’ record would stand at a comfortable 5-1. Alas, Friday night games are generally the most important in college baseball.
FAU’s 0-3 start to its Friday games can be directly attributed to a lack of plate production that has limited the Owls to two runs in each of those games.
Florida Atlantic coach John McCormack hopes Wednesday’s game against Pittsburgh will result in more than just another victory over a BCS school. He thinks it could help energize the Owls’ bats heading into the weekend’s Sun Belt opening series at Troy.
“I like the idea that we are playing the midweek game, especially for the position players because they get live at-bats,” McCormack said. “Maybe that will cure our Friday night struggles.”
Coaches typically use midweek games as an opportunity to get some at-bats for reserves, but that will not necessarily be the case against Pittsburgh. While McCormack may juggle the lineup a touch – there have been subtle changes for nearly every game this season – he intends to start his regulars.
The same can’t be said for the pitching. McCormack expects to send freshman reliever R. J. Alvarez to the mound, one of as many as six pitchers who are scheduled to throw.
Alvarez, a freshman out of Cardinal Newman, has made three appearances for FAU out of the pen this season allowing four runs in three innings while striking out three with a fastball that has reached 95 mph.
The righthander is still working his way back from a sore arm and likely won’t pitch more than two innings.
McCormack has plenty of choices to follow Alvarez. Ryan Bernal, Jason Boyer, Lou Morey, Hugh Adams, Jake Meiers and Kenny Gray could all benefit from an outing against live batters.
“We’ve been fortunate that all these guys are rested,” McCormack said. “Now, we have this midweek game and the following week we have two. Some guys are going to have to step up and be ready to go.”
Andy Mee, who assumed the closer role against Boston College when Glen Troyanowski was out with a sore shoulder, is almost assured of getting an inning of work. Mee wasn’t needed over the weekend and hasn’t pitched since Feb. 26.
“Wednesday we’ll get him at least an inning and that way he’ll be good for Friday,” McCormack said.
It is possible to focus on beating Pittsburgh and improving their pre-conference record against BCS schools to 6-4 while preparing for the Sun Belt season?
“I think you can accomplish both,” McCormack said. “We’re trying to get the guys to focus on Pittsburgh, but you know how young guys are. Sometimes they get ahead of themselves a little bit.”
Pittsburgh (7-3, 0-0 Big East)
at FAU (5-4, 0-0 Sun Belt)
Probable Pitchers: Owls RHP R. J. Alvarez (0-0, 12.00) vs. Panthers TBA
About the Panthers: Pittsburgh won seven of its first eight before dropping games to Coastal Carolina and Toledo. …Joe Leonard has driven in 26 runs and done so with only two home runs. …Pittsburgh has nine players who’ve started at least half its games and are hitting .302 or better.
About the Owls: Nick DelGuidice is one of four Louisville Slugger national Players of the Week after going 8-for-11 with two home runs and 13 RBIs against Boston College last weekend. …Dan Scheffler not only leads the Owls in average (.448) and home runs (3), he’s also tops in walks (6) and hit-by-pitches (3)…Raymond Church and Mike Albaladejo are tied for the team lead with two steals apiece, but Church has been caught three times, whereas Albaladejo is perfect.